Looking for a good UK steam route

[Purno]

I want something that isn't as old as Settle-Carlisle, which is IMO pretty dissapointing in route quality. I'm looking for something that is at least as good as Riviera Line in the Fifties. Already got Weardale & Teesdale, but no older routes. Anything else I have is modern or at least post-steam era. Already got the old Woodhead line, just in case you want to recommend that one to me :P

Preferebly passenger operations, but don't mind freight. I don't mind a short route as long as it's good (like North Somerset Railway). I play Quick Drive a lot so I want a good quick drive with a decent selection of starting points and AI traffic. Oh, and I preferebly buy from Steam.

Any route you'd recommend me?

[alanrco]

I'd recommend 'Scottish East Coast Main Line' by Just Trains. Although not a Steam product so can't be used for publishing, it does have an old world feel and the Forth Railway Bridge is a work of art + the route is very long with a nice branch line. Very scenic!

[CrazyGecko]

There's the Western Lines of Scotland and Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway that may be of interest.

[Purno]

Ah forgot I also have the Somerset & Dorset. Same story as the Settle-Carlise. It's too old and quality dissapoints me.

Western Lines of Scotland looks a tad dated too, judging by the screenshots on the store page. Although it's not in the Classics range. Is its quality similar or better than Riviera Line in the Fifties?

[CrazyGecko]

Probably less than Riviera in the fifties.

[Purno]

What about Netherfield or Malmesbury? Are any of those routes any good?

[CrazyGecko]

Mamesbury I don't have and uses Riviera in the fifties assets but as for Netherfield I'm not overly impressed with in some spots and mostly uses the old woodhead route assets..

[vlads]

Originally posted by Purno:

Any route you'd recommend me?

Stupid idea: what about de-electrification of some definetily good electric route you like or may like? I saw some projects already made this, the only problem is how to remove an enormous number of electric scenery (catenary, poles, substations) and to add signal boxes with semaphores to make it look like Weerdale-Teesdale... Speaking about the steam routes - I really feel that the scenarios matter more than the route itself. For instance the Horseshoe curve was initially made as diesel route, but there are good scenarios for steam trains. The same (I hope) can be said about the British diesel routes (Wherry lines or North Somerset for instance).

[JJTimothy]

Although all the loco's included with the W&T are Diesel with the right selection of kettles it should ably represent any period after Nationalisation- even I'm tempted by the Q6.

I imagine you've already thought of this.

[Cat]

If you have the old Newcastle-York route, there's "Echoes of Steam" in the Workshop. Sets the route in steam era.

[Chicken Balti]

Hello, possibly one of the best, if not the best 'free' routes ever built for TS below. 1950s-60's period. Not fully finished yet but free updates.
Huge very detailed route with many hours of driving time.
Best.
http://www.lincs-train-sim.co.uk/index.html

[Mountainman]

Over at Steam Sounds Supreme you can find some great freeware routes for steam trains. There are several heritage railways recreated, but also two historic routes. Have a look here: https://steamsoundssupreme.com/page_fwrp01.html